He felt himself be raised up, strong arms wrapping around his body. Violet eyes blinked open, seeing nothing but darkness stretching in front of him, “Sleep.” A voice whispered, easing the slight fear he held deep within himself.
Without a second thought, his eyes slipped shut.
_
As if remembering that scene whilst still asleep, Akashi sat up in a hurry, immediately regretting that decision. Black spots stained his vision and he clenched his eyes shut to rid of them.
“Why are you in such a hurry?” Someone asked… Sasuke asked.
Akashi felt his chest tighten and, without a word, he hurried out of the futon, almost stumbling as he raced towards the other boy, “Sasuke~!” He whined out, arms tightly wrapping around the said boy’s shoulders, “You’re back!” He leaned his face into Sasuke’s neck, tightening the hold he had on him, “You should have woken me up! Why didn’t you?”
Arms wound up around his waist and Akashi practically melted at the feeling, “You looked peaceful as you slept… It would’ve been too much of a waste to wake you up.” Was the answer he got.
Damn, he really knew how to make his heart burst, eh?
“You can be selfish sometimes, you know?” Akashi mumbled into his neck, closing his eyes.
Having Sasuke in his arms again… There really were no words to describe how he was feeling at the moment.
Sasuke leaned back, making Akashi pull back, “There’s no need for me to be selfish when it comes to you,” the raven-haired boy’s fingers brushed over Akashi’s cheeks, “I already have all of you, what more could I ask of you?”
Cue Akashi’s heart bursting.
Heat spread through Akashi’s cheeks, making him look away, “No fair,” he huffed, feeling Sasuke’s fingers trail up and down his spine, “You’re not fair.”
Something soft brushed over his temple, “I’m just telling the truth, do you not like it when I’m honest?” He heard Sasuke ask.
It was the opposite actually, “I like it.” He didn’t look back at him, somehow feeling vulnerable.
“I like you.” Came the unexpected response.
Lips brushed over his cheek, “Just like?” He asked, trailing his eyes down the expanse of Sasuke’s uncovered neck.
“Hmm? Did I say like?” The boy asked, leaning back just enough for their eyes to meet, “I meant… love.” Those dark eyes of his… His eyes were midnight and raven’s wings. They were the type of darkness that wasn’t dark. They were sweet silence before dawn. There would not be enough words of love to explain how much Akashi adored those eyes.
Yet again, his heart drummed against his ribs, “Did you now?”
“Mhm… Akashi, I love you.”
At the sound of those words, Akashi couldn’t stop his eyes from growing damp. Even as they stung, tears threatening to slide down, he leaned forward, hiding his face in Sasuke’s shoulder, “Yeah… I love you, too.”
Their hearts drummed in sync.
“Akashi?” He heard his name be said.
“Yeah?” His voice came out muffled because of the fabric of Sasuke’s shirt.
“I’m back.” Sasuke whispered, leaning into him.
“Welcome back.”
_
“So, Karin… You agree to this?” Sakura asked, staring at the redhead in front of her.
They had talked about the terms and conditions of the whole thing, the two of them alone, “I already said so, didn’t I? Sasuke and I also had a little talk about everything.” Karin answered, not breaking eye contact with Sakura.
Sakura felt relieved at the newfound information, “I see… Then all that’s left to do is for you to sign this paper. But, I recommend you read everything beforehand. I don’t want you to make a fuss later on after it’s all said and done.” She offered the paper to Karin.
The girl gently took it, before she took a seat and started reading it. It didn’t take long for her to ask the first question, “I see… So, immediately after the procedure is done, I am to spent a few weeks in the hospital to see if it worked?”
“That’s correct.” Sakura nodded.
Karin resumed her reading, “After that, I will spend the remaining eight months, or so, with both Sasuke and Akashi in the Uchiha Compound?”
Sakura nodded. It was normal of her to ask questions, this was a serious matter and Sakura didn’t want her to make some mistakes in explaining.
“After the baby is born, I will spent an additional six months with them and the baby?” Karin blinked, looking up at Sakura.
Tilting her head, Sakura spoke up, “Well, for the baby’s growth and well-being, it is recommended for the mother to breastfeed for at least six months.” She explained.
“I see…” Karin trailed off, looking over the paper, “After the six months are up, I am no longer in any position to ask to hold the baby nor to take the baby. I am completely rid of anything, right?” She placed the paper on the table, looking at Sakura through her glasses.
That was the part Sakura was kind of dreading, “Yes. Although I can’t say this for sure… I don’t think Akashi and Sasuke will completely forbid you from visiting.”
“May I have a pen?” Karin asked, leaning forward.
Sakura blinked, before she hastily took a pen and gave it to Karin. She watched as the redhead calmly signed everything that was to be signed on the paper, before she handed it to Sakura, “I’ll be here tomorrow at 7 AM.” With that, she sat up and left the room.
With a relieved sigh, Sakura collapsed into her chair.
That was stressful… To say the least.
_
“Karin!” A loud voice called out her name and the girl turned around. She was met with an excited-looking Akashi and an expressionless Sasuke next to him.
His feet clicked against the hospital tiles as he approached her, “Hello.” She greeted, the feeling of awkwardness didn’t go away.
“I want to speak with you… alone.” Akashi said as soon as he stopped in front of her. He glanced at Sasuke from the side, causing the raven-haired boy to reluctantly stay where he was as Akashi unexpectedly took Karin’s hand in his own and pulled her away.
After they were out of the hallway, Akashi took her into an empty room, “What is it that you wanted to talk about?” She asked, but received a bow as a reply.
“I can’t express my gratefulness for your actions,” was what Akashi said, “I… didn’t really expect you to say yes to our proposition.” He straightened up, violet eyes staring straight at her.
She didn’t think that he would… bow down, “Oh… Uh…” She stammered, caught off guard by his actions. This was unlike her! Why was she acting like this?!
“I’ve been an awful person in the past… I did an awful thing to you and I know you can never forgive me for that…” he trailed off, “But, I want us to work on our… relationship? Can I call it that?” He tilted his head.
To say that she was taken aback at his behaviour would be an understatement, “Yeah… I guess you can call it that.” She mumbled out, so unlike her usual loud voice.
The grin she got in return was worth it.
“I can’t deny the fact that I picked you because of one reason.” He said, averting his eyes.
She already knew why he picked her in particular, “It’s because I’m an Uzumaki, right?” She had figured out his reasons, “You wished to have at least some kind of connection to the child… Be it a distant one.”
The sight before her… He had furrowed his brows, staring at the ground as he bit his lip, “Yes… That’s true,” he admitted, not looking up at her, “But, there’s something else…”
“Something… else?” What more reason could he have to pick her?
He nodded, “You’re… the first Uzumaki I’ve met, other than Naruto… I can’t help but feel some kind of… connection to you.” Those words caused her greater confusion that almost anything else.
“You…” Yet again, she was at a loss for words.
“I know it sounds weird to hear something like that after I’ve almost… killed you, but it’s the truth,” he finally looked at her, “Have you felt lonely?”
Her heart constricted inside her chest at his question.
Lonely?
“You never gave any indication that you had a family while I travelled with you that time. Maybe I’m wrong, but you… seemed really lonely to me,” his eyes widened and he shook his head, “No, ignore that, I must be wrong!”
Lonely… She was… lonely.
So that was what that feeling was…
Her mother died from… overexertion and her duty was passed onto Karin. Soon after, she found herself in Orochimaru’s… care. Then, Sasuke came along and the rest was history.
She really was lonely.
And now, as she watched the boy in front of her practically melt from nervousness, she could see why Sasuke fell in love with him, “I was… lonely,” she spoke up, “You were right to think that…”
“Then…!” Akashi began, taking a slight step towards her.
She felt her lips quiver, “It would be nice for us to start over.”
_
“Was it wrong of me to want that? For her and I to start over?” Akashi asked, leaning onto Sasuke as they watched the village in front of them. The wind was blowing strong where they were.
Sitting atop the Hokage Mountain.
Sasuke leaned back into his chest, hands covering his own, “No… You and her are connected by blood, even if it is a distant connection.” He answered, leaning his head onto Akashi’s shoulder.
Akashi said nothing in reply, he just tightened his arms around Sasuke, “Isn’t your birthday in a few days?” He asked, “You’re turning 20…” he trailed off, “You’re becoming an adult!” He exclaimed, excitedly hugging Sasuke.
Without a word, Akashi found himself on his back with Sasuke hovering over him, “Yeah.” Was the only thing he said as he stared down at Akashi, an unknown look in his eyes.
Furrowing his brows, Akashi reached his hand towards him, “You’ve got that look in your eyes again.” He gently moved Sasuke’s bangs out of the way.
“What look?” Sasuke asked, leaning into his hand.
“As if you’re thinking about something really important.” Akashi whispered, not looking away from him.
He watched as Sasuke closed his eyes, a light sigh leaving his lips, “What if I am?”
Akashi blinked, not expecting a response like that, “About what?” He slowly sat up, making Sasuke lean back onto his thighs, “What is running through your head?”
Then, Sasuke sat up, offering a hand to him, “Will you come with me?” Was the question he was asked.
“Anywhere.”
_
Hand-in-hand, they walked through the dark streets of Konoha, until they reached one particular place.
“This…” Akashi trailed off, looking around.
Sasuke separated from him, stepping away, “I felt like this would be the perfect place.”
Confused, Akashi furrowed his brows, “Perfect? For what?” He couldn’t hide the tinge of fear that coated his words.
The last time they were here together, Akashi was left alone, forced to watch as Sasuke walked away from him.
With his heart drumming in his chest, with his ears starting to ring, with his breathing turning harsh, Akashi stayed still and waited for Sasuke’s inevitable answer.
“For this.”
Akashi’s heart stopped.
The boy in front of him was looking at him, silver rings glinting in his hands. Akashi couldn’t stop the trembles which racked through his body, “Sasuke?” He whispered, voice far too soft for the other boy to hear him.
He watched as Sasuke stepped closer to him, not breaking their eye contact, “The last time I was here, I left you. That will remain as one of my biggest regrets in life,” he took a step forward, “I was a little boy, unaware of what was in front of me… Too blinded by the need for revenge to see that you were in front of me,” Akashi’s throat went dry at his words, “I never expected to fall in love so early in my life… When you told me you fell in love with me, I was filled with an inexplicable feeling of… joy and… immediate regret,” he looked down, teeth grit together, “I knew that nothing could stop me from leaving, but your words almost did… Those words almost made me stay,” Akashi restrained himself from reaching out to him, “We had lots of fun with the others, didn’t we? Went on all sorts of adventures and missions,” Akashi almost sobbed out at those words. Those were the same ones Akashi told him the night he left, “We did. I loved the time we spent together,” he heard Sasuke’s voice break towards the end, “I want us to make more memories together… I want us to spend more time together… I want us to have more fun together…”
Sasuke looked at him and Akashi saw the unrestrained vulnerability that shone deep within those onyx eyes of his, “I don’t want to ever let you go again… I will never leave you again… I promise you that I will never walk away from you again,” he stepped towards him, “I know that we cannot get married, but I can at least give you this…”
He raised his hands, the identical, silver rings glinting under the moon’s rays.
Akashi grit his teeth, forcing back the tears that threatened to fall at the sight of Sasuke’s own eyes watering, “Will you stay with me until the end of your life?” Sasuke’s voice sounded rough as the question left his lips.
“I will,” the answer left him before he could think of it, “I will, I promise.”
A shaky hand took his own and the cold steel of the ring slid along his finger, before it came to a stop, “Will you put…?” Sasuke trailed off, not managing to finish his sentence.
“Of course.” Akashi took the other ring into one hand and Sasuke’s hand into the other.
The ring smoothly slid across his skin.
A light tremble made Akashi look up and… his heart throbbed inside his chest.
He felt his tears drop at the sight of Sasuke’s damp cheeks.
There they were, standing in the middle of a street, their fingers tightly intertwined as they cried.
“I love you.” He whispered, voice cracking from the weight of his own emotions.
His whole being soared with joy as Sasuke looked at him with tear-stained cheeks and damp eyelashes, “I love you, too.”Â
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